Key-actuated mechanism.



K. OSWALD.

KEY ACTUATED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11.1912.

Patented Dec. 12,1916.

ark c1421? all F.

KOLMEN OSW'ALD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO 0. MAURICE PEABODY, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

KEY-AGTUATED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 191%.

Application filed July 1'7, 1912. Serial No. 709,977.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KoLMnN OSWALD, a Hungarian citizen, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Actuated Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to key-actuated mech anism, such for example as the marking mechanism of watchmens clocks; but the structural features herein described and claimed are also applicable to other keyactuated mechanism, such for example as the mechanism of locks.

My invention comprises novel and improved means whereby any particular keyactuated mechanism, and the corresponding keys, may be distinguished from, or individualized with respect to, other similar keyactuated mechanism and their corresponding keys, so that any particular key-actuated mechanism may be operated only by the key or keys corresponding to that particular mechanism.

My invention consists further in other features hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The objects of my invention are to improve key-actuated mechanism and to provide means whereby a large number of similarly-constructed key-actuated mechanisms and corresponding keys may be constructed, each of such mechanisms and its corresponding keys being so distinguished from all the other similar mechanisms and keys that any one key-actuated mechanism may be operated by its corresponding keys only; and to so design and construct said key-actuated mechanism and the corresponding keys that the mechanism shall be simple, easily constructed, free from liability to derangement and relatively inexpensive, that the keys themselves shall be easily constructed, and that said mechanisms and their keys shall be readily individualized.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the case of a watchmans clock, this view showing particularly the key-hole through which the key is introduced. Fig. 2 shows a bottom view of the key-actuated mechanism within such case. Fig. 8 shows a central vertical section of the clock case and a front view of the key-actuated mechanism. Fig. 4 shows a transverse section of the keyactuat'ed mechanism, on the line a2-w of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 5 shows a similar section on the line z ;2 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, the shank of a key being shown within the key-barrel. Fig. 6 shows an axial section of the key-barrel and associated parts, on the section line e2 of Fig. 8, look ing in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 shows a rear elevation of the key-actuated mechanism. Fig. 8 shows a transverse section of the key barrel and associated parts, the section being taken on the line o@ of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows a fragmentary elevation of one of the keys. Fig. 10 shows an end view of one of the keys, and Fig. L1 shows a top view of one of the keys.

I will describe my invention as embodied in a watchmans clock, the key-actuated mechanism of such clock being the marking mechanism of the clock. It will be understood, however, that, as previously stated, my invention is not restricted to watchmens clocks, the principles of construction embodied in it and most of the details of construction illustrated and described, being applicable to looks.

In the drawings, 1 designates the case of the clock, 2 the cover thereof and 8 the marking members (see particularly Figs. 2, 4 and 5). In the mechanism shown there are six such members, but obviously there may be more or less members, according to circumstances. Beneath these members there is a comb-spring 11 provided with a plurality of suitable independent spring-leaves 12, the ends of said spring-leaves or tines being bent upwardly, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, such ends bearing against rounded heads 13 of the several marking members.

14 and 15 designate brackets or transverse partitions, forming sides of a U-section member 16, the marking members being pivoted within this U-section member 16 by means of a pivot pin 17. Adjacent to the ends of said marking members there is a key-barrel l8 rotatably mounted in brackets 14 and 15, this key-barrel having a slot 18 through which the ward or wards of a key may project to engage one or another of the marking members. The key-barrel is provided with a projecting lug 19 (Fig. 2) to which is secured a suitable spring 20 tending normally to hold said key barrel in the position shown in Figs. 3, at and 5. )Vhen a proper key is inserted in the key-barrel and turned, such motion of the ke 7 turns the key-barrel correspondingly, against the tension of spring 20. The key-barrel is pro Vided with a notch 21 in its rim into which a spring-pressed pawl 22 drops when the key-barrel is turned so that'the wards of the key have passed and released the marking members which they engaged, said pawl holding the key-barrel against backward motion until said pawl is tripped, as hereinafter described. p

I have shown the key barrel as provided with a. transverse partition 23, and have shown the key, 24, as provided with a corresponding slot 25. This partition of the key barrel and slot in thekey are not necessary features of my invention, but are desirable features, since they provide means whereby different clocks, and different keys, may be distinguished, one from another; for this partition may be made of different lengths in different clocks, and the corresponding slot 25 in the keys may be made of different depths, so that keys of any one group will correspond to their particular clock only. To insure that the key-barrel may not be rotated until'a. corresponding key has been inserted to the'full depth, I provide a locking pin 26 and a flat spring 27, which spring normally holds the pin 26 seated in a hole 28 in the partition 14. Pin 26 is carried by. a small plate 29 provided with two guide pins, 30 and 31, slidably mounted in the end of the key-barrel. One of these pins, 80, projects through into the interior of the key-barrel, on one side of the partition 23. The other pin, 31, is located on the opposite side of the partition. One of the two sides into which the end portion of the key 24: is divided by the slot 25 is longer than the other, and when the key is inserted the full depth, such longer side, (in the construction shown), engages the pin and presses the same out, so pressing out the locking pin 26 against the pressure of spring 27, and thereby freeing the key-barrel, so that the latter may be rotated.

One side of the key-barrel, (in the construction shown, the side into which the shorter side of the key projects), preferably has a length, or depth, closely corresponding to the length of such corresponding side of the key. By having the two sides of the key-barrel of different lengths, or depths, and the two sides of the key, (or at least that side which does not operate pin 30,) of corresponding lengths; by providing the partition 23 and the corresponding slot 25 in the key; and by providing the locking pin 26 and its actuating pin 30, arranged to be actuated by one side of the key, I substantially insure that the clock shall not be actuated by keys which are not intended to actuate it; for since akey can not rotate the barrel unless it be inserted to its full depth, so as to press the pin 26 out of engagementwith the locking hole 28, and since such key can not be inserted far enough to so press out the pin 26, unless the slot 25 of that key be of at least the proper length, and unless the two sides of the key be of the proper relative length with respect to each other and with respect to the length of the slot 25, and since the length of the partition 23 and slot 25 may be varied through wide limits in different clocks and groups of keys,

and since the relative depths of the two sides of the key-barrel and the relative lengths of the two sides of keys of different groups may also be varied within wide limits for different clocks and different groups of keys, a large number of possible permutations is provided, making it possible to make a large number of different clocks, with corresponding groups of keys, each clock being capable of being operated by keys of its own group only. i

I customarily provide each key with one or more wards 32, corresponding to one or more of the marking members 8, and I customarily provide each key with a further end ward 33, which does not correspond to one of the marking members, but is longer than the marking-member actuating wards,

and is provided with a rounded end adapted to engage the locking pawl 22, as the key is withdrawn from the clock, and to lift said pawl, so freeing the barrel and permitting it to turn back to normal position. It will be obvious that this locking pawl and the ward adapted to actuate it form additional means for insuring against the operation of the clock by keys other than those which are intended to be used with the clock, for if the end ward 33 be not long enough it will fail to release the pawl when the key is withdrawn, and if the key barrel be left in the operated position rather than in the normal position when one key is withdrawn, other keys subsequently inserted cannot operate the tumblers, because the partition 23 of the key-barrel then prevents the insertion of a key (either the same key or a different key) in such position that that key may operate the marking members. If a clock be found, therefore, with its barrel locked in a position such that other keys cannot be inserted in position to actuate the marking members, that is evidence that an unauthorized key has been used in the clock. If on the other hand the pawl-releasing ward 33 be too long, then the key cannot be withdrawn except by violence such as will leave obvious traces.

As a further means of individualizing clocks and keys therefor, I may provide the key-barrel with one or more inwardly projecting pins 3d, and may provide the key or keys for the clock with corresponding eX- ternal grooves 35. In different clocks, the pins 3 1 may obviously be of different depths and different locations, both angularly and longitudinally of the key-barrel, necessitating that the slots 35 of the corresponding keys shall be of proper length and proper angular position. These pins 34: and key slots 35 therefore provide a further series of permutations whereby different clocks and different groups of keys may be distinguished.

It will be obvious that the number of marking members 8 may vary in different clocks according to requirements, and that the width of these marking members, and also the length of the key-barrels, may differ in different clocks, thereby providing other means for individualizing different clocks and different groups of keys.

Besides the comb-springs 11 for moving upward such marking members as are actuated by a key, I provide an opposing spring 36 which returns the marking members once they have been actuated.

The key-hole 37 in the clock case, through which the actuating key is introduced, is commonly provided with two ward slots, 38 and 39, 38 corresponding to the position for entrance of the key, and 39 corresponding to the position for withdrawal of the key. Commonly, one of the wards (32 in Fig. 9) of each key is so located that the slightest withdrawal of the key brings this ward 32 within one of the corresponding ward-slots 4:0 or 41, in partition 15, so preventing any rotation of the key in such withdrawn position. This further insures against success of attempt to operate a marking member or marking members other than that or those which that key is intended to actuate, by manipulation of the key.

To guard against entry of dirt or the like, and to further protect the mechanism against improper manipulation, I commonly provide a sliding key-hole guard, 42, mounted in a recess 4L3 in a guard plate 44 secured to the clock case, said guard having a flanged portion 45 within the clock case. This guard works within a slot 16 of the clock case and is guided by said clock case. A spring L7 normally holds said guard in closed position. The guard is provided with a beveled face &8 and the key is provided on one side with a correspondingly beveled portion 19, which, as the key is introduced into the key hole, acts against the beveled surface 18 of the key hole guard, pressing said key-hole guard backward.

I do not in this application claim those features of my invention which particularly appertain to key-actuated marking mech anism, as these features are claimed in a companion application filed July 17 1912, Ser. No. 709,976. I do not in this application claim the key-hole guard 48, as this key-hole guard is claimed in a further companion application filed July 17, 1912, Ser. No. 709,978, now Patent No. 1,076,696 dated October 28, 1913.

In the figures of the drawing in which the upper movement plate of the clock is shown,

I have not indicated the various bearing holes of the said plate, as these holes are, properly, part of the clock-work, and form no portion of the present invention.

What I claim is 1. In key-actuated mechanism, the combination of a. rotatably mounted key-barrel, a locking pin adapted to engage a portion of the mechanism with respect to which said key-barrel is rotatable, a carrier for said pin, and a guide pin for said carrier slidably mounted in an aperture of the key-barrel and projecting into the key-barrel and arranged to be engaged and actuated by a proper key inserted into the key-barrel, whereby said locking pin may be disengaged from the part which it normally engages and so caused to release the key barrel.

2. In key-actuated mechanism, the combination of a rotatably mounted key-barrel, a locking pin adapted to engage a portion of the mechanism with respect to which said key-barrel is rotatable, a carrier for said pin, and a guide pin for said carrier slidably mounted in an aperture of the keybarrel and projecting into the key-barrel and arranged to be engaged and actuated by a proper key inserted into the key-barrel, whereby said locking pin may be disengaged from the part which it normally engages and so caused to release the key barrel, and a spring tending to press said locking pin and guide pin inward.

3. The combination, with key-actuated mechanism, comprising a rotatably mounted key-barrel and locking means therefor, comprising actuating means projecting into the key-barrel, and adapted to be actuated by a proper key inserted to its full depth in said key-barrel, and when so actuated to release the keybarrel, said key-barrel having a shoulder, occupying less than the full cross section of the key-barrel, limiting the depth of insertion of a key into said key-barrel, of a key adapted to be inserted into said key-barrel and having a shorter portion corresponding to said shoulder and a longer portion adapted to engage the actuating means of said locking means, and so release the key-barrel, said key-actuated mechanism comprising a spring tending to return the key-barrel to normal position after rotation thereof.

4:. The combination with key-actuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive the shank of a key, said key-barrel having a projection extending inwardly from one side thereof, of a key having a shank adapted to fit within said key-barrel and provided in its exterior portion with a slot adapted to receive the said projection of the key-barrel.

5. The combination with key-actuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive the shank of a suitable key, and locking means adapted to lock said key-b'arrelwhen the latter has been rotated from normal position to a predetermined 7 position, of a key adapted to be inserted in said key ba'rrel and provided with means adapted to engage said locking means and release the key-barrel upon withdrawal of the key from said key-barrel.

6. The combination with key-actuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive the shank of a suitable key, and locking means adaptedto lock said key-barrel when the latter has been rotated from normal position to a predetermined position, of a key adapted to be inserted in said key-barrel and provided with a projecting ward adapted to engage said looking means and release the key-barrel upon withdrawal of the key from said key-barrel.

7. Key-actuated mechanism comprising a rotatably mounted key-barrel adapted to re ceive a shank of a suitable key, one or more members arranged to be actuated by a key rotating with said key-barrel, and locking means for said key-barrel adapted to lock same when saidkey-barrel has been rotated from normal position to a position such that the members have been actuated by said key.

8. The combination with key-actuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel, one or more members arranged to be' actuated by a key rotating with said keybarrel and locking means for said key-barrel adapted to lock same when said barrel has been moved from normal position to a position such that the members have been actuated, of a key adapted to fit within said key-barreland provided with one or more wards adapted to engage one or more of said members during the rotation of the key.

9. The combination with key-actuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel, one or more members arranged to be actuated by a key rotating with said keybarrel and locking means for said key-barrel adapted to lock same when said barrel has been moved from normal position to a position such that the members have been actuated, of a key adapted to fit within said keybarrel and provided with one or more wards adapted to engage one or more of said members' during the rotation of the key, said key arranged to release said locking means as saidkey is withdrawn from the keybarrel. V

10. The combination with key-actuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive the shank of a suitable key, one or more members arranged to be actuated by a key rotating the said key barrel, and locking means adapted to lock said key-barrel when the latter has been rotated from normal position to a position such that the members have been actuated, of a key adapted to be inserted in said keybarrel and provided with one or more wards adapted to actuate one or more of said members when said key and key-barrel rotate, said key comprising a ward which engages said locking means and releases the key-barrel as the key is withdrawn.

11. The combination with key-actuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive the shank of a suitable key, one or more members arranged to be actuated by a key rotating the said key barrel and locking means adapted to lock said key-barrel when the latter has been rotated from normal position to a position such that the members have been actuated, of a key adapted to be inserted in said keybarrel and provided with one or more wards adapted to actuate one or more of said members when said key and key-barrel rotate, saidwards and members so related that the ward or wards of the key pass beyond and release the member or members after actuating the same.

12. The combination with key-actuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-bar- V bers when said key and key-barrel rotate,

said wards and members so related that the ward or wards of the key pass beyond and release the member or members after actuating the same, said key further provided with a ward'arranged to engage said locking means and release the key-barrel upon withdrawal of the key.

18. The combination with a key provided with one or more projecting wards, of keyactuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive such key and having a lateral slot adapted to receive the ward or wards thereof, a frame in which said key-barrel is mounted, having two slots, one adapted for the passage of the wards when the key is inserted into the key-barrel, the other adapted for the passage of the wards when the key is withdrawn from the key-barrel, and one or more members adapted to be actuated by the ward or wards of said key, said members so related to the key barrel and key-wards, that the wards pass beyond and release the members after actuating the same, and that the key cannot be returned after actuation to insertion position past the members.

14. The combination With a key provided with one or more projecting Wards, of keyactuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive such key and having a lateral slot adapted to receive the Ward or Wards thereof, a frame in which said key-barrel. is mounted, having two slots, one adapted for the passage of the Wards when the key is inserted into the key-barrel, the other adapted for the passage of the Wards when the key is withdrawn from the key-barrel, and one or more members adapted to be actuated by the ward or Wards of said key, said members so related to the key barrel and key-wards, that the wards pass beyond and release the members after actuating the same, and that the key cannot be returned after actuation to insertion position past the members, and locking means for said key-barrel adapted to lock same after the key has actuated one or more of said members.

15. The combination with a key provided with one or more projecting Wards, of keyactuated mechanism comprising a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive such key and having a lateral slot adapted to receive the ward or wards thereof, a frame in which said key-barrel is mounted, having two slots, one adapted for the passage of the wards when the key is inserted into the key-barrel, the other adapted for the passage of the wards when the key is withdrawn from the keybarrel, and one or more members adapted to be actuated by the ward or Wards of said key, said members so related to the keybarrel and key-wards, that the wards pass beyond and release the members after actuating the same, and that the key cannot be returned after actuation to insertion position past the members, and locking means for said key-barrel adapted to lock same after the key has actuated one or more of said members, said key comprising means for releasing the key-barrel upon withdrawal of the key.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

KOLMEN OSWALD. Witnesses H. M. MARBLE, E. S. Ross.

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